Box



Feb. 28, 1967 F. TAYLOR, JR 3,306,516

BOX

Filed Jan. 22, 1965 FIGJ.

2 Sheets-$heet 1 Feb. 28, 1967 F. TAYLOR, JR

BOX

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22. 1965 3,306,516 BOX Leonard F. Taylor,Jr., 3113 Kimberly Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63120 Filed Jan. 22, 1965, Ser.No. 427,361 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-36) from their assembled relation. Otherobjects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possibleembodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a box of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a blank from which the FIG. 1 box is assembled;

FIG. 3 shows the FIG. 1 :box in an intermediate stage of assembly;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows another stage in the assembly of the FIG. 1 box;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view taken on FIG. 5.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

A box of this invention, shown generally at 1, can be assembled from theblank shown in FIG. 2 which is made of cardboard or other suitablematerials. Box 1 comprises a bottom 3, two side walls 5, two end walls 7and a top 9 having two end sections 11. Sides 5 and ends 7 are integralwith bottom 3 and sections 11 of the top are integral with the ends 7.

The blank from which the box is assembled has a first pair of parallelscore lines 13 at the intersection of bottom 3 and sides 5 and a secondpair of parallel score lines 15 at the intersection of bottom 3 and ends7. Sides 5 and ends 7 are swung upwardly about score lines 13 and 15 inassembling the box. The blank is scored at 17 along each end of both boxsides 5 to form pairs of ears 19. An ear 21 is formed along the top ofeach box side 5 by score lines 23. Bars 19 and 21 are swung into the boxby bending along the score lines 17 and 23.

Each of the ears 19 has a tab 25 defined by a score line 27 extendingangularly from score line 17 and by a staggered slit 29. Slit 29 has anend portion 29a coextensive with score line 17 and joined to its otherend portion 29b by a center portion 290 which is substantiallyperpendicular to the score line 17. End portion 29b of the slit is at anangle to the score line 17 and score line 27. Tabs 25 are forced intothe box during assembly of the box ends 7 as explained hereinafter.

There is an elongate slot 31 in each of the cars 21 which line 77 ofUnited States Patent 0 3,306,516 Patented Feb. 28, 1967 is preferablyparallel to and closely adjacent the score lines 23. Slot 31 may becoextensive with scores 23 if desired. The ends of slots 31 are spacedfrom the ends of cars 21 and these slots are used for holding top 9closed.

Ends 7 are separated from top sections 11 by score lines 33 which aresubstantially parallel to the score lines 15. The blank is scored at 35between scores 15 and 33 to define lower end panels 37 between scores 15and 35 and upper end panels 39 between scores 33 and 35. Holes 40 in endpanels 39 provide handles for carrying the box.

At the side edges of each end panel 39 are tongues 41 separated from endpanels 39 by score lines 43 about which the tongues are folded duringassembly of the box. One edge 45 of tongue 41 is arcuate and constitutesthe inner and upper portion of the tongue in the assembled box. Anotheredge 4-7 of tongue 41 is substantially perpendicular to the adjacentedge of end panel 37 in the blank and this edge constitutes the lowerend of the tongue in the assembled box. The center portion of eachtongue 41 is joined to a panel 39 by a neck so that the edges of tongueend portions 49 and 51 are free from end panel 39. Ends 49 and 51 oftongue 41 constitute the upper and lower ends, respectively, of thetongue when the box is assembled. As shown in FIG. 2, the score lines 35extend across box ends 7 between the lower ends of the necks joiningpanels 39 and tongues 41 so that they are su statially in line with theupper end of tongue portions 51 in the assembled box.

Each top section 11 has a score line 53 spaced from and substantiallyparallel to the score lines 33 to define outer top panels 55 and innertop panels 57 in the assembled box. Projecting from the side edges ofeach top panel 57 are a pair of flaps 59 which are separated from thetop panel 57 by score lines 61. Each flap 59 has a curved edge 63 whichconstitutes the lower outer edge of the flap in the assembled box. Astraight edge 65 of each flap constitutes. the inner edge of flaps 59 inthe assembled box. Each flap 59 is joined to top panel 57 by a neck atone end of the flap, there-by providing an end portion 67 of each flapwhich is free of the top section 11. The end portions 67constitute theouter ends of flaps 59 in the assembled box. As shown in FIG. 2, thescore lines 53 extend across the top sections'between the inne portionof ends 67 of the flaps 59.

To assemble the box from the FIG. 2 blank, sides 5 are first swungupwardly about score lines 13 until they are generally parallel to eachother and perpendicular to bottom 3 of thebox. Bars 19 and 21 are thenfolded inwardly on score lines 17 and. 23 until they are substantiallyperpendicular to the sides 5 of the box. The outer surfaces of cars 19will then be substantially coplanar with the scores 15 of the blank.Then the lower panels 37 of the box ends are pivoted about score lines15 and swung first to the position shown at the right side "of FIG. 3and then to the position shown at the left side of FIG. 3. During thismovement of panel 37 the ends 47 and the free end portions 51 of tongues41 are guided through the staggered slits 29 in ears 19, thereby forcingtabs 25 inwardly into the box about the score lines 27. See FIG. 4 andthe left side of FIG. 3.

End panel 39 is then swung upwardly about the score lines 35 so that endpanels 37 and 39 are substanitally coplanar. This moves edge 45 and endportion 49 of tongue 41 into the box. Tabs 25, when deflected, bearagainst the tongues 41 biasing them toward the sides of the box. Thescore line 35 is adjacent the lower end of slit end 29a as shown in FIG.4 and the necks joining the tongues 41 to end-s 7 are substanitally thesame length as the end 29a of slit 29 as shown in FIG. 2. Thus when thefree end 49 of tongues 41 pass through the upper end 2% of the staggeredslits 29, the tongues are deflected by tabs 25 toward the box sides 5 totheir FIG. 6 position. This permits the tabs 25 to at least partiallyreturn to their normal position in the plane of ears 19. The endportions 49 and 5.1 of the tongue 41 are then positioned so that theiredges abut the inner surface of cars 19 at the intersection of the earsand sides 5. The tongue end portions 49, 51 are above and below,respectively, of the end portion 29a of slit 29 and are displacedlaterally from slit end portion 2%. Before the tongues 41 can bewithdrawn from ears 19, the tabs 25 must be forcibly deflected and theend portion 49 of the tongues moved into the plane of end 2% of slit 29.Thus this interlocking structure prevents inadvertent removal of thetongues 41 from cars 19 and holds the box ends 7 on the sides 5.

Next the panels 55 and 57 of top section 11' are moved to the positionshown at the left in FIG. 5. Top panels '55 then overlie the bottom 3and are positioned immediately above the ears 21. As panels 55 are movedinto place the curved ends 63 of flaps 59 enter slots 31 in ears 21.Next panels 57 and flaps 5? are pivoted about the hinge line 53 to moveflaps 59 into the box through slots 31 to their FIG. 5 position. Duringthis movement the panels 57 of top sections 11 are lowered so-that theyare substantially coplanar with panels '55. The two top sections 11substantially close the top of the box.

Portions of tongues 41 and flaps 59 are in side-by-side relation asshown at the right side of FIG. 5. When slots 31 are spaced inwardlyfrom the score lines 23 and slit portions 29a is along score line 17 asshown in FIG. 2, the flaps 59 are guided to the inside of the tongues41. This relation can be reversed by adjustment of the position of slots31 and slit 29.

As shown in FIG. 7, the top panels 55 overlap the ends of slots 31. Thislocates the score lines 53 adjacent the ends of slots 31 so that as theflaps 59 are swung into the box, the ends 67 of the flaps 59 swing to aposition between the ends of the slots 31 and the box ends 5 so that thebox top sections 11 cannot be lifted vertically but must be swung aboutthe hinge line 53 for opening the box. This provides interlockingengagement between flaps 59 and the ends of cars 21 and preventsinadvertent opening of the box.

With the box thus assembled the interlocking connections between the topsections and cars 21 and between the end panels and the ears 19 hold thebox assembled and substantially prevents inadvertent disassembly of thebox. These interlocking connections betwen the various parts of the boxeliminate the need for gluing, taping, stapling or otherwise securingvarious portions of the box together, thereby saving steps in assemblyand eliminating the cost of these fastening means. The box can be usedfor a wide variety of products including bottles of beer or otherliquids, meat, fruit and other merchandise.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

1. A box construction comprising a box bottom, two sides and two ends, aset of ears projecting inwardly into the box from the ends of each ofthe box sides, each of said ears having a staggered slit defining a tabin the ear, the lower end portion of each slit extending along theintersection of the box sides and ears and the other portions of theslit being offset from the lower end por= tion and located entirely insaid ears, a set of tongues at each side edge of each of the box ends,the tongues projecting into the box through the slits in the earsthereby interlocking the ears and tongues, the tabs being de flectableby the tongues as they enter the box, each of said box ends beingintegral with the box bottom, the box ends being scored between thetongues to define lower and upper end panels, and the tongues being freefrom the box ends beneath the scoring wherein the lower panels of thebox ends are placed against the ears and the upper panels and thetongues are then swung upwardly about the scoring for inserting thetongues throughthe ear slits forinterconnecting the box sides and ends,said box comprising a second set of ears projecting into the box fromthe upper edge of the box sides, each of the ears of the second set ofcars having a slot therein, and a box top joined to an end of the boxand having two flaps at side edges thereof projecting into the boxthrough the slots in said second set of ears when the top is closed.

2. A box construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the edges of theupper and lower ends of the tongues at the ends of the box are free fromthe box ends, the upper end of said tongues abutting the cars at theinter= section of the box sides and the set of ears above said lower endportion of the slits.

3. A box construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein the tabs in thecars at the ends of the box bear against the tongues on the box ends,thereby forcing the tongues out of alignment with the upper end of theslits and preventing inadvertent removal of the tongues through theslits.

4. A box construction comprising a box bottom, two sides, two ends and atop, an ear projecting inwardly into the box from the upper edge of eachof the box sides, each of said ears having an elongate slot, the box topcomprising two sections extending from the box ends to the center of thebox, a pair of flaps at each side edge of one top section, a second pairof flaps at each side edge of the other top section, the first andsecond pairs of flaps projecting into the box through the slots in theears for interlocking the pairs of flaps and the ears, thereby holdingthe top closed, an end portion of each of said flaps being free from thetop sections and each top section being scored across the sectionbetween the inner ends of the free portions of the flaps to define innerand outer panels on each top section, the score lines beingsubstantially in line with the ends of the slots in said ears whereinthe outer panel of each top section can be placed flat against the endsof said ears and the inner panel of the box sections and the second pairof flaps can be first elevated above the box for positioning of theouter panels and then swung about the score lines for inserting thepairs of flaps into the box for closing the top of the box, the freeends of the pairs of flaps being swung to a position between the ends ofthe slots in the ears and the box ends, thereby interlocking the flapsand earsfor holding the top sections closed, and tongues at the sides ofthe box ends interlocking with pairs of ears projecting inwardly intothe box from the ends of the box sides.

5. A box construction as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pairs of earsat the ends of the box sides have staggered slits through which saidtongues project for interlocking the box ends and sides, the lower endportion of each slit extending along the intersection of the box sidesand the ears at the ends of said sides, the other portions of said slitsbeing offset from the lower end portion and located entirely in saidears at the ends of the box sides.

6. A box construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein the edges of theupper and lower ends of the tongues are 3,306,516 5 6 free from the boxends, the upper end of said tongues 2,718,998 9/1955 Bemiss 229-35abutting the ears at the ends of the box sides above and 2,955,73710/1960 Arneson 229-35 below one portion of the slits in said ears.2,982,464 5/1961 Wingate 229-35 References Cited by the Examiner 5FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 724,849 2/1955 Great Britain.

504,824 9/1893 Cook 229-36 1,600,260 9/1926 Walter 229 36 JOSEPH R.LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. 1,894,226 1/1933 Ross 229-36 D. T. MOORHEAD,Assistant Examiner.

2,493,176 1/1950 Whitehead 229-36 X 10

1. A BOX CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A BOX BOTTOM, TWO SIDES AND TWO ENDS, ASET OF EARS PROJECTING INWARDLY INTO THE BOX FROM THE ENDS OF EACH OFTHE BOX SIDES, EACH OF SAID EARS HAVING A STAGGERED SLIT DEFINING A TABIN THE EAR, THE LOWER END PORTION OF EACH SLIT EXTENDING ALONG THEINTERSECTION OF THE BOX SIDES AND EARS AND THE OTHER PORTIONS OF THESLIT BEING OFFSET FROM THE LOWER END PORTION AND LOCATED ENTIRELY INSAID EARS, A SET OF TONGUES AT EACH SIDE EDGE OF EACH OF THE BOX ENDS,THE TONGUES PROJECTING INTO THE BOX THROUGH THE SLITS IN THE EARSTHEREBY INTERLOCKING THE EARS AND TONGUES, THE TABS BEING DEFLECTABLE BYTHE TONGUES AS THEY ENTER THE BOX, EACH OF SAID BOX ENDS BEING INTEGRALWITH THE BOX BOTTOM, THE BOX ENDS BEING SCORED BETWEEN THE TONGUES TODEFINE LOWER AND UPPER END PANELS, AND THE TONGUES BEING FREE FROM THEBOX ENDS BENEATH THE SCORING WHEREIN THE LOWER PANELS OF THE BOX ENDSARE PLACED AGAINST THE EARS AND THE UPPER PANELS AND THE TONGUES ARETHEN SWUNG UPWARDLY ABOUT THE SCORING FOR INSERTING THE TONGUES THROUGHTHE EAR SLITS FOR INTERCONNECTING THE BOX SIDES AND ENDS, SAID BOXCOMPRISING A SECOND SET OF EARS PROJECTING INTO THE BOX FROM THE UPPEREDGE OF THE BOX SIDES, EACH OF THE EARS OF THE SECOND SET OF EARS HAVINGA SLOT THEREIN, AND A BOX TOP JOINED TO AN END OF THE BOX AND HAVING TWOFLAPS AT SIDE EDGES THEREOF PROJECTING INTO THE BOX THROUGH THE SLOTS INSAID SECOND SET OF EARS WHEN THE TOP IS CLOSED.